Trafford

Born at Broughton, Salford on the 26th October 1890, the birth being
registered during the December quarter 1888 in the Salford R.D. - ref:
8d/74, the youngest son of Walter & Rebecca Featherstone (nee Schofield).

1891 Census - Sycamore Cottage, Lower Broughton Road, Broughton, Salford.  
Son - aged: 2 - born: Broughton.   Head of household - Walter Featherstone
- Married - aged: 46 - occ: Engine Packing Manufacturer - born: Manchester.
  Also - Rebecca Featherstone - Wife - aged: 36 - born: Fulham, London.  
Plus 3 siblings and 1 domestic servant.

1901 Census - Sycamore Cottage, Kersal Dale, Broughton, Salford.   Son -
aged: 12 - born: Broughton.   Head of household - Walter Featherstone -
Married - aged: 50 - occ: Engine Packing Manufacturer - born: Manchester.  
Also - Rebecca Featherstone - Wife - aged: 46 - born: Fulham, London.  
Plus 3 elder brothers and 2 domestic servants.

His mother - Rebecca Featherstone died in 1904, aged: 49.  His father
married Harriett Stokoe in 1908.

1911 Census - Delhi Barracks, South Tidworth, Hampshire.    Soldier - aged:
22 - rank: Driver in Royal Field Artillery - born: Manchester. 

His father now remarried, was residing at Homebash, Brook Road, Timperley. 
 Head of household - Married - aged: 61 - occ: Manufacturer of Engine
Packing - born: Manchester.  Also - Harriett Featherstone - Wife - aged: 36
- born: Manchester.  Plus 2 siblings and 2 domestic servants.

Walter emigrated to Canada on the S.S. Tunisian on the 14th February 1913,
sailing from Liverpool to either St. John, New Brunswick, or Halifax,
Canada.    Recorded on the Ship's manifest as a 25 year old Clerk.

At the outbreak of war in August 1914 he was farming in Canada where he
joined the Army.    He was later drafted to England where he transferred to
the R.F.C.

Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificates, 1910-1950    384 Walter
Featherstone.   Rank or Profession:  Draughtsman.  Certificate No.384 taken
on Bristol Biplane at Bristol School, Brooklands 7th January 1913.   Rank
or Profession: Draughtsman.

Married Florence Ethel Hall on the 7th June 1913 at Saskatoon,
Saskatchewan, Canada.     Florence was born on the 22nd June 1891 at Aston
Clinton, Buckinghamshire.    They had one son - Warren Cory Featherstone
who was born on the 12th October 1914 at Entwistle, Parkland, Alberta,
Canada.  He died in Bognor Regis, Sussex in 1994.

On the 3rd October 1917 whilst at the 35 Training School at Northolt
Airfield, in the process of making his final flight to qualify for his
'wings', his B.E.2e aircraft rose to about 100 feet, but owing to some
problem with it, the aircraft dived backwards and vertically nose-dived to
earth.   He was severely injured in the crash and died the same day at the
London Hospital.  His death was registered during the December quarter 1917
in the St. George Hanover Square R.D. - ref: 1a/477 - aged: 27.

Death reported in the 19/101917 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.  The
Times newspaper dated the 5th October 1917 stated that he resided at North
Lodge, Hatfield and was "Terribly Burned" and died at Eaton Square R.F.C.
Hospital.

Death registered during the December quarter 1917 in the St George Hanover
Square R.D. - ref: 1a 477, aged: 27.

UK Army Register of Soldiers' Effects - Record No. 4176 - 201618/3 -
2/Lieut W Featherstone Reg RFC (GL) date of death 3-10-17 Account Transfer
3588 20.7.18 - £19. 4s. 7d.

Find A Grave memorial 69141305.   M.I. "In Loving Memory of Walter
Featherstone 2nd Lieut RFC died 3 October 1917 aged 27 years".

Left a widow - Florence E. Featherstone and one child.   His record states
that his wife resided at Methurst, Woodside Road, Beaconsfield,
Buckinghamshire.

Not mentioned in "The Sky Their Battlefield".   Not mentioned in any of the
RFC Communiqués.

Listed in the Guardian Year Book - Roll of Honour for 1918.

His widow married Frank Tapping in 1921 in the Hendon R.D.   Her last known
address, shown on his M.I.C. was - Bailey Farm Cottage, Rowsham, Aylesbury.
  Florence & Frank emigrated to Australia on the 6th March 1929.